Future Shock Blog

Minor League Update: Games of August 9

Entering the year, Polanco was one of those players every team has a couple of – the super toolsy outfielder who one hopes will click. There was little sign of that in 2011, when he hit .237/.333/.361 in the Gulf Coast League, but few, if any prospects in baseball have taken a bigger step forward this year. There's absolutely nothing not to like about Polanco. A lean and wiry six-foot-four, the 20-year-old Dominican is the kind of player who catches your eye the second he gets off the bus, and then he shows a good approach, the potential for plus power, plenty of speed (40 stolen bases), and good defense in center. This is a five-tool guy actualizing, and rapidly, into an elite-level prospect.

Billy Hamilton, SS, Reds (Double-A Pensacola): 2-for-4, 3B, 2 R, BB, 2 SB, CS. Has stolen 11 bases in his last five games to give him 133 on the year; just 12 short of the minor league record and hitting .273/.395/.384 since move to Double-A.

Joe Panik, SS, Giants (High-A San Jose): 2-for-4, 3 R. Ten hits in last three games and hitting .344 since the All-Star break; .293/.369/.412 overall is middle infielder with good approach and gap power.

Enny Romero, LHP, Rays (High-A Charlotte): 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K. Left with big velo and big control problems will get plenty of time to figure it out, because when he's right, he's capable of lines like this.

Trayce Thompson, OF, White Sox (High-A Winston-Salem) 4-for-5, R, 3 RBI, K. Has made big strides in cutting down on whiffs with .310/.365/.549 line in 46 games since the All-Star break; big tools are still there, and production is starting to match.

Dan Vogelbach, 1B, Cubs (Short-season Boise): 2-for-4, 2 HR (6), 2 R, 2 RBI, K. Beefy 19-year-old first baseman has impressed with hitting skills and power; five home runs in last four games and .356/.415/.746 in 15 overall since promotion.

Well it is obvious that Kevin has a bias against Bogaerts since he also left him out of the Top 50 list. Now that Machado is in Baltimore I can't think of a better position prospect in the minors today.